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| Good morning, Daily Briefing readers! America is on the brink of rolling out a vaccine against the coronavirus. It's Jane. Happy Friday. |
| The Food and Drug Administration could authorize Pfizer's vaccine as early as today. Another government shutdown may occur. And, whale alert! Researchers believe they've identified a new species of marine mammal off Mexico's western coast. 🐳 |
| Here's today's news: |
FDA could authorize Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as early as Friday |
| The U.S. Food and Drug Administration could authorize Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use as early as Friday . Once it's authorized, vials of the vaccine will begin shipping to all 50 states. A committee of leading U.S. vaccine scientists endorsed the vaccine candidate Thursday evening, which paved the way for a final decision by the FDA and mass vaccinations to begin within days for thousands of front-line health care workers and nursing home residents. One last important meeting will take place Sunday when an advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention meets to make a final recommendation on who should get the vaccine first when it is in very short supply. |
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Clock is ticking: Will there be (another) government shutdown? |
| A Senate vote on a wide-ranging defense policy bill was delayed after Kentucky Republican Rand Paul objected to the measure, casting the next steps in doubt and raising the slim prospect of a government shutdown if a short-term spending bill is not approved by Friday. Paul said on the Senate floor that he opposes provisions in the defense bill that would limit President Donald Trump's ability to draw down U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Germany. His objections on Thursday threatened another must-pass bill, a one-week spending measure that would keep the government open through Dec. 18. The House has passed the stopgap measure, but a government shutdown would occur if the Senate does not act on it by midnight Friday. |
Biden expected to announce key figures of incoming administration |
| President-elect Joe Biden on Friday is expected to officially announce several members of his incoming team. They include Denis McDonough, revealed unofficially Thursday as Biden's pick for Veterans Affairs secretary. McDonough, chief of staff under President Barack Obama, is among other prominent figures of that administration now being tapped by Biden. Another is Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary, the role he held under Obama. Official announcements may also come on Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge as HUD secretary and Katherine Tai as U.S. trade representative. |
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More news you need to know: |
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Lake Tahoe closing to tourists for holidays amid COVID-19 restrictions |
| Lake Tahoe, one of California's premier winter getaway destinations, is closing to tourists for the holiday season as tougher COVID-19 restrictions are enacted throughout the state. "People are asked to stay home as much as possible unless completing essential activities. Essential activities include picking up food, grocery shopping, doctor's appointments, etc. We are also encouraging visitors who are considering vacationing in Tahoe to put those plans on hold for the foreseeable future," a statement on the South Lake Tahoe website says. Over a dozen more California counties are being placed under stay-at-home orders as the number of cases in the state explodes. The newest order takes effect Friday and runs through at least Jan. 1. |
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Has a new whale species been discovered off Mexico? |
| A team of beaked whale researchers are "highly confident" that they have likely identified a new species of whale off Mexico's western coast. The trio of researchers — Gustavo Hinojosa, Jay Barlow and Elizabeth Henderson — working in conjunction with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, say they detected a rare type of beaked whale first linked to an "unidentified acoustic signal" spotted by the remote San Benito Islands. That sound may have likely been that of the Perrin's beaked whale, a species that resides in deep, remote waters and is distinguished by its lack of teeth. A sighting has never been recorded before. |
| Contributing: The Associated Press |
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